Toshiba briefs trade press editors on R32 launch

Toshiba’s R32 roll-out included a briefing for editors of key industry publications, held in London in the run-up to the launch.

Those attending included Neil Everitt, editor of leading online news site Cooling Post, Andrew Gaved, editor in chief of RAC and H&V News, Lynn Sencicle, editor of ACR News, and David Todd, editor of ACR Journal.

David Dunn, TCUK’s managing director of sales, outlined the strategy and presented the findings from a survey carried out among Toshiba customers.

He said UK contractors had initially expressed reservations about the use of R32, due to the flammability issue as an A2L refrigerant. However, the latest research had shown there was now broad acceptance among installers and specifiers that R32 will become the mainstream solution for small and medium sized systems in the future, due to its lower cost and lower GWP.

David Dunn said: “The feedback has confirmed that customers’ views on R32 have evolved significantly over the past two years. Some have viewed R32 as a ‘transitional refrigerant’, however initial scepticism has been replaced by an acceptance that R32 is not only a viable alternative, but attractive given continuing increases in the cost of R410A and demand for lower GWP systems by end users.”

He stressed that Toshiba believed that effective installer training was key to the successful move to R32. To assist customers in the transition, Toshiba would be contributing to the cost of training in the use of A2L refrigerants, a mandatory requirement for installers and service staff handling R32 systems, through the enhanced Toshiba rewards scheme.

The briefing resulted in widespread coverage in the trade press for the roll-out. Follow the links below to see online reporting of Toshiba’s R32 launch